Absolutely love coming here! At every visit, the staff are friendly, welcoming, and helpful in deciding what to order (ie plate vs pupu platter). The meats are cooked perfectly and are juicy deliciousness! The chicken is wonderful and so is the butterfish collar! My favorite! The pork was also amazing on a previous visit. The environment is welcoming and the windows open allows a breeze to flow through. There are bathrooms to wash up before and after eating with your hands. The stickers are spot on ~ 'Whatchu Smokin'?' Highly recommend if you love bbq and want something unique that can't be found in the continental United States (at least that I know of). read more

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I've been on a burger binge recently. Figure I'd try this place. Service was okay, if you're on a time limit this may not be the best place to get food. The burger itself was light. Very tiny portion of Kim chee, and the greens. Taste was fine, but I doubt if it's in house made. Nice view to eat, inside there's lots of seating but was too hot for me. read more

Guava Smoked - Outside eating area - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you're a mainlander, this place sure knows how to make you feel like the sucker they can dump the leftovers on. Walked into a completely empty restaurant. No greeting, no welcome, nothing. The heavily tattooed old guy behind the counter looked annoyed I was even there. Grills were not on, yet my $29 plate came out in five minutes. What I got was basically a tray of fat, gristle, and lard with a little meat mixed in. I literally watched him look at me before picking through the tray, and after seeing the plate, it felt pretty obvious I was getting whatever scraps they did not care to serve. Maybe they save the actual meat for the "locals." I can only speak to what happened to me, but that was absolutely the impression they gave. I showed him the plate and asked if he would eat it himself. He had nothing to say.$29 to be served a plate of scraps is all I need to see about the integrity of a business. If you are comfortable charging someone full price for food you would not eat yourself, that says more about the place than any review ever could. Pathetic. read more

Lunch in Kapahulu, Honolulu, Hawai'i... When Roz set up a get together with Kim, who was visiting from San Diego, I was really happy! Not only did I not have to plan the meeting, but also, they selected a venue that I've always wanted to try... Guava Smoked. I have been to the Kalihi location, so I knew that had good food! This Kapahulu location was great because there's a small, free, shared parking lot and a convenient restroom! The service was efficient and very friendly and helpful! I forgot about the elevator that someone wrote about in their review. I climbed the stairs carefully to the second floor where, surprisingly, it's decorated pleasantly! There's no air-conditioning... just open doors and windows. We sat in a comfy booth. Kim ordered a side of Smoked Duck for us to share. It was ok. She was able to take the leftovers home to her family. I got the Combo Plate that comes with a side (I chose green salad - the dressing was quite tart!) and two scoops of hapa rice (brown and white mixed together). My two meats were kalbi - it was alright - and the salmon belly - ooh! Very good! Overall, it was a wonderful experience... being together again, taking food photos, chatting, eating, and laughing! And we had a surprise guest: Ric C. Plus, we planned a UYE... check the Events Tab! read more

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The butterfish was a revelation. A buddy recommend I try the food here, and I was blown away by how good cooked fish could be. I personally prefer raw fish to cooked fish, but it might just be the quality of the fish I grew up eating. I saw that the butterfish was recommended, and I was consequently blown away. Fish is famously fatty/oily, but butterfish lives up to its name. Sweet, savory, fatty -- all good things. The guava slushy was tasty, but I drank through mine way too quickly. I would have gotten a refill, but I am balling on a budget. There's plenty of seating inside and outside. The food was filling, and perhaps extra satisfying knowing that the restaurant uses invasive strawberry guava wood for their smoking their meat (hence the name of the restaurant). The guys working here were extra kind, and gave me free fried rice for to-go. read more

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Park in the back and walk up the stairs. This place was not as amazing as I hoped. But it definitely got the job done. The guy at the counter wasn't the most people person ever, but he also got the job done. Didn't get a photo of the guava cake brownie thing they have, but it was really yummy. read more

Guava Smoked - Hamburger steak, not as tasty as it sounds. But that's what that thing is, covered in gravy. And delicious chicken plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I want to update that the kalbi and the butterfish collar are so freakin' delicious and I wish I could eat it all the time. LOL I love how it's cut for you into bite-size pieces and portions are generous. The way that they cook it really makes a difference. I'm currently craving this right now... Another honorable mention is the salmon bellies omg. I could smash 40 of those. LOL So delicious. Parking is a little tricky but hopefully can find some street parking if the mini lot is full and just walk it. Service is quick and they bring your order to you. Utensils are on the counter where the napkins are. Ambiance is a very local/chill take-out spot but they have more than enough space to dine-in after you get your food. read more

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WHY WE WENT HERE: - dinner THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located on the 2nd floor of a plaza off Kapahulu Ave and Campbell Ave - entrance to the the restaurant is accessed through the parking lot off Campbell Ave patio seating available overlooking Kapahulu Ave THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - indoor seating is comprised of high chairs and tables or booth seating - order and pay at the register; help yourself to the drink fountain; seat yourself - single person restrooms THE MENU: - plate lunches - burgers & sandwiches - dessert - bowls - pupu bowls - frozen to go... WHAT WE ORDERED: - Smoked Chicken with Kahumana Greens - Spicy Smoked Pork with Kahumana Greens - Smoked Kalbi Short Ribs with Kahumana Greens - Guava Slush THE TASTE: - kahumana greens was essentially a side salad; the dressing was like a lemony/tangy ranch, pleasant surprise and good - smoked chicken was a bit dry, but almost like a teriyaki chicken - spicy smoked pork wasn't spicy, moreso peppery; this was pretty good - smoked kalbi short ribs were both tender and chewy and just a LOT of meat in general CUSTOMER SERVICE: - we came for dinner but this is definitely more of a lunch place read more

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TL;DR The spicy pork is good. ----- I had Guava Smoked on my radar for quite a while, so when I found myself nearby and craving a protein-packed plate lunch, I decided to drop in. There is a dedicated parking lot behind the restaurant that is shared with the other businesses in the same building. When I walked into the restaurant at about 1pm on a Wednesday, I was surprised to find it almost empty. It's a pretty large space, so the lack of patrons was rather glaring. There was one person sitting at the counter facing the kitchen and one employee working. This was my very first visit to Guava Smoked so I asked the person at the counter what he recommends. He said the two most popular meats are the kalbi and the spicy pork. "Perfect!" I thought, because those were the two options I was eyeing. Unfortunately, they were out of kalbi that day. Bummer... Nothing else on the menu caught my eye, so I ordered a smoked spicy pork plate to go. The spicy pork was good. Did it blow my mind? I wouldn't say it did. But it was satisfying enough. Honestly, I really wish they had kalbi available when I went. Hopefully next time I stop in they will. read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked Pork (Spicy) - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ordered the loco moco spicy and my husband ordered the mixed plate both with kimchi. Gravy wasn't what I expected... country gravy as a loco moco just isn't my style. The patty its self was okay. Nothing super special. Unfortunately no spiciness in this dish. And the kimchi was more on the sweet side rather than the fermented spicy. Tried to add their chili pepper water but again I was left without the fiery kick in my mouth. Definitely has a strong garlicky taste though. Service is quick. But came on a Monday before dinner time so it was slow. Lots of seating and open air flow. Direct parking is limited but street parking is available. read more

Found this local gem thanks to a recommendation from our Lyft driver! It's a fantastic spot for authentic Hawaiian smoked meat just outside the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. The Food: We ordered the combination plate to try a bit of everything--chicken, pork, and kalbi short ribs. Every meat was perfectly marinated and paired beautifully with the kimchi. The kalbi was the absolute standout! The Logistics: Keep in mind that the entrance is tucked away at the back of the building (not the main road side) on the second floor. Parking is a small lot in the back or limited street options. The Service: I'm knocking off one star due to a somewhat grumpy experience with the gentleman taking orders. There was a mix-up with our meat selection, and while the server corrected it, the original staff member seemed visibly disgruntled and kept shaking his head at the mistake. Overall: A solid "hole-in-the-wall" find. Despite the service hiccup, the food is delicious enough that I'd definitely return when I'm back in the area. Mahalo! read more

Guava Smoked - Inside - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food was amazing!! Place was a little hidden, upstairs - worth the search. Pork was so flavorful, smoked to perfection - we had to get more. The smoked salmon bites also delicious. Service was great- came to our table to check on us - he was thrilled to hear we ordered more. Only thing that would have made experience a little better - if they had their liquor license to have a couple beers. read more

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Out of kalbi (seems to happen quite a bit?) and spicy pork seemed a lot saltier than I remember. They seem to get overwhelmed by large crowds/busy times of the day. Not sure if they were just down a person the day I visited, but waited a very long time for my order. read more

Got the Smoked Meat Chili from the Kapahulu Giava Smoked. I still prefer the chili from across Campbell Avenue but it was quite good. Service....worker in front of POS was on his phone for a good minute while I stood next to the POS at the entrance...curious how long it would take for him to ask me what I wanted to order. read more

Guava Smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Holy Hawaiian BBQ! I've been stalling on writing a review for this place for the longest time, simply because I have been greedy and wanting to keep this place all to myself. Plus, if you arrive to late in the evenings, they tend to sell out on some of their more popular items. I always order the combination plate - add any of the sides and you cannot go wrong. All of their meats are smoked to perfection. If we don't order it in our combo plates, we always get an additional kalbi order; my hubby insists! The spot can be a little difficult to locate. Parking in the back is extremely limited, but I just park across the street or find street parking. The stairs might look daunting, but there's an elevator if you're having limited mobility. Majority of the seating is high top, which I love, but can be problematic for some. There are booths that can fit 4 comfortably, but they are limited. Restrooms inside too. Don't leave before trying their guava bar! read more

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Bamboozled beyond belief, in short the short ribs were way too fatty, service was good but food was over hyped and too fatty personally for me a little too Expensive and not worth it. read more

Guava Smoked - Short ribs plate - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place could really improve on greeting people. I said hello twice thinking they didn't hear me but they were just ignoring me and just stared??????.... I still ordered food and it wasn't good. Everything tasted very old. Everything came out a little less than lukewarm.... got the bbq plate and the pork tasted oldddd and not fresh. Also got the beef roast and the broth had solidified so it was just cold jelly mush. Their small serving of the kimchi side tasted good but was so small and had barely any cabbage. I think I came on a very bad day because I will not be coming back after my experience. yucky. read more

Loving coming here! We come to Waikiki at least once a year and Guava Smoked is always one of our go-to stops for delicious Kalbi short ribs plate! read more

Hidden hole in the wall. The entrance is located in the back of the building and upstairs. The parking is very small with maybe five stalls. Luckily I was able to get a spot. There are tables and high tops to sit yourself down. Nice ambiance, able to catch up with a friend. Food wise, I got the mild smoked pork plate. I was told this was the most popular item so I wanted to try it. The meat was tender and not dried out. The rice was soft. I chose kimchi for my side. It had a little bit of kick to it (a good thing). Overall good, I wish the meat itself had a little more flavor. But they had spicy sauce condiment and chili water on the side that you can add to your liking. Staff were very nice and helpful with recommendations. Would come back again! read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked pork plate and mixed plate - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I don't what everyone was raving about. Maybe it's just us, but we ordered a mixed plate ( 2 meat, Kalbi and smoked pork) and the meat is tough, and dry, the only saving grace was the salmon belly, which my wife ordered. Thank you, but not coming back to this one. read more

7/12/26 Heard n read all the good reviews Wanted to try this place out Called to ask if they served beer(s) Was told "Yes, but not today" So I asked if I could bring my own beer Again "Yes, but not today because we have minors on shift working" It's admirable to hire minors but at a $Loss to revenue$? We were all thirsty n hungry Oh Well... read more

Absolutely delicious and worth all the hype! We ordered so much food and I got to try the following: Mild smoked pork: 4/5 A tad salty and not as tender as I would've hoped, but the flavor was good. Smoked duck: 5/5 Loved the duck, very smoky and tender. Smoked Kalbi Short Ribs 5/5 This was my favorite protein. It's so juicy and flavorful! Get the smoked fried rice and guava slushy too, you can't go wrong! Service was friendly and I'm glad we showed up right when they opened to avoid the lines. read more

I didn't feel like going out, so I had the food DoorDash'ed to where I was staying. I ordered the smoked hamburger steak, with rice and Mac salad.... I ordered it non-spicy. Overall, the food was very good. The rice was done just right, and the Mac salad was great. There was just a little bit of red pepper on top to give it just a tiny bit of a kick. I like it a lot. There were two decent sized smoked hamburger patties, and they were awesome! The smokiness gave the hamburger a more deep flavor. I loved it. The one thing I didn't care for as much, was the white gravy. It tasted just a little sweet for my personal taste, and it tasted like the flour wasn't cooked out all the way. I could taste just a little bit of the flour in the gravy. It was still very good and it went with the hamburger very well. I would order here again the next time I'm in Hawaii. Thank you. read more

Guava Smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Don't know what to put on here... just look at the picture. A picture is worth a thousand words. Or in this case, maybe just two. GAS STATION. Go chance em read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked Kalbi Short Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Grandpa's stew 10/10. Genorious portion size! Off food topic, restroom was VERY clean which is also appreciated! read more

First time here based off lots of recommendations from friends and coworkers. Got the mix plate because I couldn't decide between the loco moco or the smoked salmon belly. Portions for the mix plate were decent I got 3-5 small pieces of salmon belly and two small patties and one egg. The loco moco was good but not what I expected (the hype). The salmon belly was also decent. I would come back to try the short ribs as that's what people keep telling me to try. I wouldn't get the salmon belly again but I would give the loco moco another try. read more

Guava Smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is upstairs in the back of a building. Everything is smoked. The food was very good. I thought it was a bit pricey but it was interesting trying white gravy on the loco moco. It had a great savory flavor. The Mac salad was really good and did not contain tuna which our party appreciated. You order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. It was not busy when we went and it didn't take long. I would recommend checking it out. read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked Loco Moco - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Smoked pork was my favorite - smokey meaty goodness. Short ribs were meaty and good too but a little too burnt and dry for me - needed sauce. Husband liked this the most. Kids said fried rice was just fine and would've preferred the white rice. I think we met the owner and he was very nice. Can't wait to come back for the guava bars! They also sell jook and other large portions of frozen foods to go. They have a small parking lot too woohoo! read more

Guava Smoked - Chicken teriyaki kids plate with fried rice - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wow wow wow. Came here for the smoked kalbi and it did not disappoint!! I have not had kalbi made like this before. Smoked so well, juicy, fatty and flavorful! Pleasantly surprised with the mac salad as well. Big portions and the kalbi plate was $25. Spicy pork was good, but not comparable to the kalbi flavors - very little spice. Guava bar was good to try, not to sweet. I think it could have been more moist Parking: small lot Location: upstairs. Across from Zippy's Service: friendly and fast! Food: kalbi 5/5, spicy pork 4/5, guava bar 4/5 Ambiance: casual read more

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Loved the idea of smoking meats with guava wood, but I didn't really taste much of a smokey flavor in the meats. The bbq left them a little dry, flavor of their marinades are pretty good though! Loved their vinegar sauce and their kimchi that went with the meats though. We got their chicken, salmon belly, kalbi, and spicy pork. I think the juiciest was the chicken! but my mom her favorite was the kalbi dipped in their sauces. We also got a guava bar not shown in the photos but it was also ok! I wish it had more guava flavor. read more

Guava Smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here a second time for lunch because everyone just loved the food. We all had kalbi plate. We loved the kimchi as well as the macaroni (the best out of all the places we've eaten at). Service is excellent just like the day before. We wanted to go again tonight but ran out of time. We're going to miss their food for sure when we go back to California. read more

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If you're looking for some delicious, locally owned BBQ, you must visit Guava Smoked! We were told this was a must stop while we were on the island. All of the meets are smoked with waiawī, a strawberry guava. The meat was fall off the bone, portions were huge, and my "I don't like fried rice" daughter downed almost the entire portion of rice. In addition, we had a guava slushy, plenty of garlic chili sauce, and the chili pepper water had a really unique but yummy flavor. When we're lucky enough to make it back to the island, this will be on our list of local eats. read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked Kalbi Short Ribs Plate, Smoked Loco Moco Plate, and Smoked Fried Rice Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food was really good. We got the barbecue beef plate with Mac salad and rice for Mac salad was really good. It was pretty empty in the place, but we got our food to go anyways the slushy was my favorite part of the meal. I was very satisfied with this place. read more

Guava Smoked - Guava slushie 10/10 - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Absolutely delicious and a must try when in Honolulu! Came two days in a row because it was that good- the first day tried the smoked pork and smoked chicken with rice and mac salad, both meats were so tender and flavorful with a great char in places. Second day tried the smoked salmon belly which almost tasted candied, it was so rich and the fat was perfectly rendered. Will definitely return when I'm next visiting, the food is incredible and the service is very efficient and well-run. read more

Had the chicken bowl and Kalbi plate. Was one of the best bbq I've had in awhile. Kalbi was not greasy at all, very tasty! Mac salad taste like homemade. Chicken plate was also good and flavorful. Bowl is good for someone with a small appetite. Went here as a suggestion by my daughter who goes to UH. Glad that we went! read more

Guava Smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had dinner here before we went to the Yelp event downstairs at Walking Bean Cafe. I haven't been here in years and wanted to try them out again. We picked up a Smoked Mixed Plate with beef and chicken $19.58 plus $2.39 for fried rice. We got another Smoked Mixed Plate with kalbi and butterfish collar $19.58 plus $2.39 for fried rice. The food was delicious. It had that char taste that was so good, especially with the fatty butterfish collar. The fried rice was also good with pieces of smoked meat. Also, get the green salad with house dressing. They have this garlicky lemon dressing that's one of the best. Their food is made to order. They cook it as the order comes in, so the food isn't just sitting around. We washed everything down with guava slush $4. The slush was really flavored as it tasted like it was made from pure concentrate. I was afraid that it would have been watered down, but it wasn't. read more

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This is a cross between a Hawaiian plate lunch joint and a smoked meat house. The plate lunches consists of pick a meat, choice of white or brown rice, and pick a side ( Mac salad, green salad or Kim chee). Most of the tables are high top, but they do have three booths along the side of the restaurant. The vibe is relaxed, playing the local top hit radio station. There are a few parking spots around back of the Kapahulu location. Otherwise you are left to search for street parking. The portion sizes are generous, and the smoked meats are what bring the regulars back . Today we had the beef stew plate, the spicy pork plate, and the smoked chicken plate. The beef was tender, but overall the stew was "ok" (not something you come back again for). The pork and chicken were solid, but the spicy pork was not very spicy. The Kim Chee side dish was the winner. We could have made a meal out it. Overall, a reliable place for a smoked meat lunch, but if visiting the island, probably not worth a trip out of your way to try. Service is counter service and person was friendly and patient as we made our decision on what to order. read more

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Landed and came straight here about an hour before closing time craving something heavy. Parking lot is pretty small but we got lucky and grabbed the last spot. Unfortunately we came a little late and all they had left was Loco Moco which we were happy to order. Plate was pretty heavy but we opened it up as soon as we got in the car. First thing you notice is they use a white gravy instead of brown. The gravy and the pork patties were very heavy but good flavor. Eggs were cooked perfectly. The rice unfortunately was kind of mushy for me but it being the end of the night that makes sense. I definitely would love to come back to try their smoked meats an fish next time because it all looks amazing. read more

Guava Smoked - Smoked Loco Moco Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wow! Just wow! This place is truly a hidden gem in Kaimuki. I bookmarked it last year, and since we were in the area, we finally got to try some of their local plates. I ordered the smoked butterfish collar bowl with one scoop of hapa rice. It had a rich, smoky flavor and it tasted a little bit like miso butterfish but even better because it was smoked. The char was just right, the seasoning was perfect, and it had a slight sweetness. Every bite is just ono!!! My husband got the smoked duck with smoked fried rice and mac salad. Since the duck is made to order, we waited about 20 minutes, but it was totally worth it. The duck was tender and packed with flavor, and the smoked fried rice was just as delicious. We left super satisfied! The staff here are incredibly nice, accommodating, and friendly. Parking is limited, but we found a spot across the street at Nanding's. Highly recommend!!!We'll definitely be back! read more

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Great smoked meats for a decent price. They sell by the weight so it is easy to pick out what you want. Seasonings are always perfection, just a little sweetness form the guava and a rich taste. The beef stew was not as good as their smoked meats but still tasty and rich. Recommend for take out! read more

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